Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Not Guilty, or Acquitted?

I keep hearing two different results for the Michael Jackson trial. Maybe the way I understand it is wrong?

The two versions that I hear is that he's:

Been acquitted

Been found not guilty

My understanding of an acquittal is that the charges have been cleared, in the sense that there was no case, almost like the charge was never made, whereas when you're found not guilty, it's saying that there was grounds for a case, but the prosecution did not prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Well that's what I remember from 2 years of legal studies...correct me if I'm wrong

Edit: Then, I found this. Maybe it's the difference between two countries legal system?